Chuen-Tat Kang

Story

I am Chuen-Tat Kang (www.kangchuentat.com). I lived in Malaysia since I wasborn in June 1977 in an island state of Penang – well known as the garden of the East. I have never been to Australia before year 2003. After completing the undergraduate studies as a chemical-bioprocess engineer from University Technology Malaysia, I wanted to pursue my further studies in one of the Western nations where the advanced technology was originated. Before year 2000 I never imagined that I could arrive and stay in Australia for almost 4 years. I thought I could have to pursue my study in the United Kingdom instead initially where I have friends and relatives working and staying there. Most of my undergraduate lecturers have been British postgraduates. After completing the first degree I worked for almost three years then I found that Malaysia is not a very condusive place for higher degree research studies due to lack of sufficient professionals, facilities and social support towards pursuing higher degrees. Many university research institutes are in the process of development and not yet able to satisfy my personal requirement to pursue my studies above undergraduate level. Initially I arrived to visit relatives in Melbourne around November 2003. When I returned to Malaysia I worked in the private Malaysian school where many students will pursue their post-secondary or tertiary education in Australian varsities with frequent return for alumni visit in Penang island. I understood that Australia is one of the popular destination for Malaysian students when the public and private university placements are insufficient in term of quality and quantity. I decided to stay on for the second visit in October 2004 after I obtained my permanent residency of Australia.

Everything that happened during my migration was in my initial expectation. I successfully obtained my Australian permanent residency in August 2004. During that time I was still working with the private school headed by the Irish old man married to a Chinese woman and resided in Malaysia. When I put my resignation letter he was not very happy. I applied for Australian permanent residency since September 2002 without a proper plan initially and I forced myself to leave Malaysia to Australia accompanied by my mother and her sister to my youngest aunty’s place in Melbourne. It must be remembered that everything looked calm and unexpected and that I was still teaching and conduct private tutoring until the day before I leave Malaysia. I came to Australia without much money. On the 7 October 2004, Thursday, I thoroughly leave all my school work in Malaysia and fly to Australia using Singapore Airlines that offered the cheapest airfare.

The flight begin from Bayan Lepas International airport to Changi airport in Singapore, then interchange to Melbourne Tullamarine airport. The journey took around 1 hour for domestic flight in Malaysia and around 7 hour international flight to Melbourne airport. My mobile phone become disconnected outside the service region once arrive to Singapore. The service of airline was good but that was not the main focus. I was still thinking whether I am able to return to Malaysia after I stayed in Melbourne for three weeks, but finally I abandoned my return ticket back to Malaysia and continuously stayed in Melbourne up to year 2009. My mother and aunty left and remained myself to stay with my youngest aunty.

I am from a Buddhist family that have not experienced the Christian-majority environment. My first Christmas was full of special celebration that I have never seen because Christian is minority in Malaysia. Australia is an advanced nation with multicultural background. Many races are able to stay in single environment, ranging from African, Middle Eastern, Asian and mainly white Australians that are also British descendants in comparison to three major races of Malay, Chinese and Indian in Malaysia. The environment in Australia is not as congested as Malaysia. In terms of weather, dramatic changes has force me to struggle to adapt to the dry and seasonal environment that induced hay fever. However, it is still a conducive place to study. Initially I opt to work as teacher, but finally I discovered that the culture of Australians are adapted towards high technology research and development, so I decided to do my PhD studies in Swinburne University of Technology in year 2005. Tropical flora and fauna in Australia are very different from I have seen before arrival to Australia.

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